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Overview

This unique Mini DisplayPort™ to VGA adapter is equipped with a built-in audio port which lets you connect Mini DisplayPort equipped devices, such as a Microsoft Surface™ Pro 3 tablet or MacBook Air laptop, to a VGA display or projector with audio.

Share your presentations and videos

Because most boardrooms are set up differently, the length of cables available in each room vary. Not all laptops have the Mini DisplayPort (mDP) and audio ports positioned on the same side, which can become awkward when you’re trying to share your presentations. It can also mean that some ports may be just out of reach during a meeting.

This convenient adapter positions your audio and video ports on the same side of your laptop, to ensure that all of the ports you need are accessible when you need them.

Substitute for a damaged audio port

If the audio port on your mobile device is damaged or blocked by other connections, this convenient adapter guarantees that you’ll always have all of the ports you need for every presentation. By connecting audio to your laptop through the adapter, you can be prepared for any situation.

In order to use the audio function of the adapter you need to power the adapter through a USB port on your laptop, or through a charge port on a USB grommet. Simply plug a Micro USB cable from the adapter into the USB port and audio will be available when you deliver your presentation.

Create a clutter-free environment

The adapter can also be used for connecting your laptop or desktop computer to your monitor and speakers. The adapter and connected cables can be placed nicely at the back of your monitor to create a tidy setup between all of your devices.

Arrive prepared, wherever you go

This mDP to VGA adapter is extremely portable with a lightweight, small-footprint design. It’s the perfect accessory to carry with your mobile devices, fitting easily into your laptop bag or carrying case. Its ultra-portable design makes the adapter ideal for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) applications at the office.

It also enables you to arrive prepared when you’re presenting to a potential client, teaching off-site, or traveling to a meet with a customer.

The adapter is compatible with Intel® Thunderbolt™, when connected directly to a supporting DisplayPort over Thunderbolt™ I/O port, and supports resolutions up to 1920x1200 (WUXGA).

The MDP2VGAA is backed by a 2-year StarTech.com warranty and free lifetime technical support.

Applications

Connect a VGA monitor or projector to a Mini DisplayPort equipped device, while providing audio for your video presentations

Connect a VGA display to your mDP laptop to use as a secondary monitor

Keep the adapter with you while traveling, to connect to any VGA monitor or projector you come across

Walk into any boardroom with your Mini DisplayPort laptop or tablet and be ready to present

Product Support

Data Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Buy

When you convert video from a source that uses DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort to DVI or HDMI (for example, a computer to a monitor), you will need to consider the difference between passive and active adapters.

If the source supports dual-mode DisplayPort (also known as DP++), then you can use a passive adapter because the source can perform the conversion. If the source does not support DP++, then you need to use an active converter, which includes additional chips to perform the conversion.

Thunderbolt ports support DP++ natively. To run multiple monitors from the same computer, refer to the Active Adapters section below.

Passive Adapters

Passive adapters are less expensive since they do not need to include additional chips. A quick way to check whether you can use a passive adapter is to see if the DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort source has the DP++ symbol above it. The symbol is a D with a P inside of it, with two + signs to the left, one on top of the other.

Active Adapters

Active adapters use additional chips to make the conversion inside the adapter, regardless of whether the source supports DP++. This means that active adapters are more expensive than passive adapters.

If you want to use multiple monitors with the same computer, you should use an active adapter because some video cards cannot run the maximum number of monitors while using DP++. This is especially true if the computer has more than one DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort connection. Check with your video card manufacturer to confirm which type of adapter you need for the setup that you would like to run.

Note: You should use passive adapters with StarTech.com MST hubs, except when you are converting from DisplayPort to VGA, since that type of conversion requires active adapters. For more information on using adapters with StarTech.com MST hubs, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/mst_hubs_passive_vs_active_adapters.

Surface Dock

If you experience issues when you connect passive video signal adapters to the Surface Dock, Microsoft recommends that you use active video signal converters instead. StarTech.com offers an active video signal converter for DVI monitors (MDP2DVIS) and for HDMI monitors (MDP2HD4KS).